Nation: Marijuana measure approved for Fla. ballot

FROM WIRE REPORTS

January 27, 2014Updated: January 27, 2014 10:00pm

TALLAHASSEE - A proposed constitutional amendment to allow the medical use of marijuana will go before Florida voters in November after the state Supreme Court narrowly approved the ballot language Monday.

The 4-3 decision is a victory for personal injury lawyer John Morgan, who spent $4 million on a medical marijuana petition drive, and a defeat for Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi, who fought to keep the question off the ballot.

The decision comes three days after Morgan secured enough voter signatures to make the ballot. He made a massive push in December and January to beat the Feb. 1 deadline instead of waiting for the Supreme Court decision - a gamble that has now paid off.

CONGRESS

Senate advances bill to delay flood insurance hikes

WASHINGTON - Bipartisan legislation that would delay flood insurance premium hikes for hundreds of thousands of people living in coastal and low-lying areas appears set to clear its first hurdle in the Senate on Monday.

The legislation would delay for up to four years premium increases set to phase in next year on homeowners facing whopping premium increases under new flood maps.

The higher premiums are the result of changes made to the federal flood insurance program less than two years ago - widely praised as long-overdue reforms of the program - that were designed to make it more financially stable

From wire reports

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